Snowboard boot ankle support assembly

ABSTRACT

An ankle support assembly for use in combination with a soft-style snowboard boot. The assembly includes a rigid heel cup and a high back support for supporting the calf region of the snowboard rider. The high back support includes an extension member having a bottom end portion that is coupled within a pocket formed in the upper rear region of the heel cup. The coupling permits the high back support to float about a pivot axis that is translatable a predetermined amount along transverse, longitudinal and vertical axes of the ankle support assembly so as to enable articulation of said ankle support device in a manner that closely approximates the articulation of the foot and ankle of the snowboard rider. A tether is provided to prevent inadvertent decoupling of the high back support from the heel cup. Also included is a length adjustable tension cable to provide forward lean adjustment for the assembly.

This is a 371 application of PCT/US98/00336 filed on Jan. 15, 1998,which the PCT is claiming priority of Provisional Application 60/035,619filed on Jan. 17, 1997.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to improvements in soft-stylesnowboard boots of the kind that include an interface to a bindingelement affixed to a part of the boot for use in combination withstep-in snowboard bindings. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to an internal ankle support assembly for use in combinationwith a soft snowboard boot, wherein the assembly is effective to lockout forward extension movement of the snowboard rider's ankles, and iseffective to closely approximate the articulation of the foot and ankleof the snowboard rider.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Snowboard boots generally fall into one of two categories: "hard-style"or "soft-style" boots. Hard snowboard boots are the preferred boot fordownhill riding. The construction of hard snowboard boots is similar tothat of conventional ski boots. Plate bindings are used for attachingthe hard boots to the snowboard.

Soft-style snowboard boots are the preferred boot for freestyle riding.The construction of the soft boot design is characterized by a flexibleboot upper which permits high lateral mobility to accommodate the ankleand calf movement of the rider during freestyle maneuvers. Commonbinding types for attaching the soft-style snowboard boot to thesnowboard include external strap bindings and step-in bindings.

It is well recognized in the art that soft-style snowboard boots requiresupport in the calf region in order to lock out forward extension of theankle in order to facilitate tipping the board on edge when executing aback side or heel side turn.

In the past, this support was provided by the high back structure ofconventional strap bindings. The high back structure effectively locksout the forward extension movement of the ankle, while side-to-siderotation of the ankle and foot is permitted (as allowed by theflexibility of the boot/ankle). Without this flexibility, the rider'sability to optimally control board position and bodily stance isdiminished. This is especially detrimental to "freestyle" riding, wherequick turns and stunts require a high degree of side-to-side ankle/footflexibility.

In the case of step-in bindings, there is no external high back.Therefore, an essential feature to the design of a soft-style boot forstep-in bindings is the relocation of the external high back supportstructure found on conventional (strap-type) bindings to the interior ofthe boot. This structure allows the rider to efficiently apply arearward force (towards the back edge of the snowboard) which iscritical in providing control while riding. The high back is fixed at aparticular angle in relation to the board, such that a force applied"backwards" to the high back (relative to the boardrider), with theboard pivoting about an axis through the heel side edge, will pull thefront of the board upwards. The rider simply leans backwards, pushingthe high back backwards, which then "tips" the board up onto the heelside edge. Without such a structure, the rider would have to pull thetoe edge of the board upwards using his leg muscles. The high backstructure effectively "locks out" the forward extension of the ankle.However, as the boot is not attached to the external high back, lateraland medial rotation of the ankle/foot is not inhibited by the high back.

The internal high back support structure should provide similareffectiveness of ankle lock out as an external high back while alsoallowing relatively free side-to-side rotation of the ankle/foot. Thus,the provision of an integral structure in a soft-style snowboard bootwhich provides similar support as an external high back while stillallowing lateral/medial flexibility would be a highly desirable feature.

For the case of conventional strap bindings with external high backsupport, the amount of forward lean is determined by the angle of theexternal high back, which is not itself attached to the boot. Therefore,lateral/medial rotation of the ankle/foot does not affect the amount ordegree of forward lean imparted by the high back, and vice-versa.Forward lean and lateral/medial ankle/foot rotation are effectivelyisolated from one another. Without this isolation, the rider's freedomof movement/board stance and degree of control are diminished. A highback/forward lean structure that is integral to the boot musteffectively retain this independence between forward lean andlateral/medial ankle/foot rotation.

From published European Patent Application EP 0 646 334 A1, there isdisclosed a high back support insert for a soft-style snowboard bootwhich is adapted to be placed between the flexible outer boot portionand the soft padded inner boot portion. The insert includes a heelcup/foot bed portion which is pivotally connected to an upper high backportion at the height of the ankle about an axis extending in thelongitudinal axis of the boot plane. A pair of lengthwise adjustablestraps connect opposite sides of the foot bed portion (at the ball ofthe foot region) to respective opposite sides of the high back. Ashortening adjustment of the straps provides a change in the forwardlean of the boot insert by pulling the upper high back portion forwardlytoward the toe end of the heel cup foot bed portion of the boot insert.

Blax of Germany is currently selling a version of this type of high backsoft boot insert under the name of I-SPINE. The Blax system utilizes asingle direction tension adjustment via a ladder strap that runsvertically up the back of the ankle. In the Blax design, the fixed pivotlocation between the high back and heel cup means that the presence ofhigh back is always "felt" by the rider. In toe side turns, the fixedpivot restrains the high back and does not allow it to follow theforward lean of the rider's ankle. In view of the fixed pivot feature,this design feels mechanical and limiting as it does not closely mimicthe rolling articulation of the foot and ankle. It is noted that theankle joint has a very limited amount of side-to-side angular rotation.The side-to-side flexibility of the ankle/foot is mostly achieved byrotation/articulation of the structure of the foot.

Accordingly, an ankle support device for a soft-style snowboard bootwhich provides high back support needed for heel side turning and whichalso closely approximates the rolling articulation or the ankle and footduring side to side movements and toe side turning would constitute asignificant advance in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the invention discloses a multi-piece support system consistingof a rigid heel cup, a stiff high back, and an adjustable forward leanstrap or cable.

The heel cup is designed with a pocket on the upper back edge into whichfits the rounded bottom end of the high back. The bottom end of the highback is coupled securely within the pocket, yet is free to roll andshift from side to side, allowing lateral rotation of the ankle jointwithout sacrificing high back support. The high back "floats" in thepocket instead of pivoting about a fixed point, giving greater comfortand control to the rider. It also has some limited front-to-back freedomof rotation in the pocket, allowing forward lean adjustment.

The adjustment forward lean strap or cable is mechanically connected attwo points on opposite sides of the boot. It's position is also fixedrelative to the top of the cuff/high back, but the boot cuff is free toslide along its length. This allows for adjustment of the cable or strapon only one side of the boot, and also allows greater lateral bootflexibility without sacrificing support. The forward lean strap systemis coupled to the top of the high back in such a way as to transfer loadfrom the forward lean strap to the high back, so that when the riderapplies force backwards to the top of the boot (by leaning backwards fora back side or heel side turn), the applied force is balanced by theopposing horizontal component of the tension in the forward lean strap,while the compression in the high back balances the vertical componentof the strap tension.

Unlike the fixed pivot ankle support insert designs of the prior art,the free floating coupling between the bottom end of the high backsupport and the heel cup permits the bottom end of the high back to movevertically upwards within the pocket when tension in the strapsslackens. This situations occurs, for example, during toe side turnswhere the rider leans forward to shift weight to the toe side edge ofthe snowboard. The free floating coupling feature advantageously allowsthe upper part of the high back support to move upwardly and forwardlyas needed to more closely follow the complex articulation of the rider'sankle and calf region during toe side turns.

The invention preferably includes restricting means for restricting therange of vertical movement of the high back with respect to the heel cupso as to prevent inadvertent decoupling of the bottom end of the highback from the heel cup pocket. The restricting means may include, forexample, a tether or leash for anchoring the high back to the heel cup.Other solutions which provide the equivalent restricting function mayinclude, but not be limited to: (1) sewing or otherwise affixing thehigh back to the boot inner liner material; (2) providing engagement orabutment structure (e.g. tabs, lips, stops, etc.) on mutually facingsurfaces of the heel cup pocket and the bottom end of the high back; and(3) configuring the coupling between the heel cup pocket and bottom endof the high back as a "loose pin within a pin hole" type coupling,wherein the heel cup pocket includes a narrow neck and wide bottom andthe bottom end of the high back is fashioned as a bulbous member adaptedfor one way insertion within the narrow neck so that it rides within thewide bottom end of the heel cup pocket.

The heel cup pocket is preferably dimensioned to provide the bottom endof the high back a desired amount of translation or movement in thetransverse (side-to-side) and longitudinal (fore-aft) directions of theankle support device. The range of motion provided by the appropriatelydimensioned pocket is sufficient to permit the pivot axis at the bottomend of the high back support to shift or float in the transverse andlongitudinal axis of the boot as needed in order to more closelyapproximate the articulation of the rider's ankle during side to sideshifting or rolling motions of the ankle.

Methods and apparatus which incorporate the features described above andwhich are effective to function as described above constitute specificobjects of this invention.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which by way of illustration, show preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatare now considered to be the best modes contemplated for applying theseprinciples. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made asdesired by those skilled in the art without departing from the presentinvention and the purview of the appending claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEWS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ankle support device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention similar to that as shownin FIG. 1, except that the heel cup is shown in partial section view toillustrate the floating coupling feature between the high back and heelcup. The tether feature is also shown.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ankle support device as showninstalled within a soft-style snowboard boot (shown in partial phantom).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the FIG. 1, there is shown an ankle support assembly10 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

The ankle support assembly 10 includes a rigid molded heel cup 12 with aslot or pocket 14 formed in the top rear surface of the heel cup. Theheel cup pocket 14 provides "floating" support to the high back, but isalso designed to locate and hold the heel in a fixed position,preventing "heel lift" which is detrimental to the control of thesystem.

The ankle support assembly 10 further includes a rigid or partiallyrigid high back support 16 having a narrow, rounded bottom end member 18adapted for coupled insertion within the heel cup pocket 14. Since thebottom end member 18 is not mechanically fixed to the heel cup 12, andsince the pocket 14 is larger than the bottom end of the high back, thehigh back 16 is free to rotate laterally (as indicated by directionalarrow A) and shift vertically (as indicated by directional arrow B),thereby giving greater control and freedom of movement to the rider. Thehigh back 16 "floats" in the pocket 14 instead of pivoting about a fixedpoint. Because of this, the assembly 10 articulates in a manner thatclosely approximates the actual articulation of the foot and ankle,thereby providing more comfort and freedom than a fixed pivotingassembly. In addition, the movable "axis of rotation" is significantlylower than the axis of rotation in the fixed pivoting ankle supportsystems of the prior art, thus allowing the system of the presentinvention to more closely mimic the ankle's true action. The pocketwidth is also designed to be greater than the thickness of the bottomend 18 of the high back 16 so that some front-to-back rotation of thehigh back 16 is also accommodated (as indicated by directional arrow C).This allows for adjustment of the forward lean of the boot.

With reference to FIG. 2, the ankle support device 10 preferablyincludes a leash 20 connected between the high back support 16 and heelcup 12 to restrain or limit the total upward range of motion of the highback support or spoiler 18. The leash 20 prevents the inadvertentdecoupling of the high back 16 from the heel cup 12.

With reference to FIG. 3, the ankle support device 10 may include alength adjustable cable or strap 22 for forward lean control. In thisfigure, the ankle support assembly 10 is shown fitted within asoft-style snowboard boot 23 (shown in phantom). The opposite ends ofthe cable or strap 22 are attached to the respective opposite sides ofthe boot upper 24 at two locations on opposite sides of the foot. Thecable 22 is directed through a guide 26 that goes around rear of thehigh back support 16. The cable 22 includes a length adjustable lockingmechanism 28 that allows for adjustment of the forward lean of the boot.The above-described connection of the length adjustable cable 22 to theboot upper 24 and high back 16 permits the boot cuff/high back to slidefreely along the length of the cable 22 to allow lateral flexing aboutthe ankle joint with no loss of high back support. This could also beaccomplished in either of the following ways, each comprising a separatedesign. In each case the forward lean system and the high back would besecurely connected, so that the vertical component of the strap/cabletension would be balanced by compression in the high back.

1. Using a strap, this could be accomplished with a low profile D ring(or equivalent) attached to the boot cuff/high back, through whichD-ring the strap would pass. The boot cuff would thus be supported bythe strap, and would also be able to move laterally as the D-ring wouldslip along the strap.

2. Using a cable, this could be accomplished using a sheath sewn intothe top of the boot cuff, through which the cable would pass. The cablewould thus support the cuff while the cuff would be free to slide alongthe cable.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variationand modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to theprecise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such changesand alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ankle support assembly for use in combinationwith a soft-style snowboard boot and which is effective to provideimproved support and motion control for the foot and ankle region of thesnowboard rider, comprising:a) a rigid heel cup; b) a high back supportfor supporting the calf region of the snowboard rider, said high backsupport including an extension member extending downwardly in thedirection of said heel cup; and c) coupling means for coupling saidextension member of said high back support to said heel cup in a freefloating manner which permits said high back support to pivot about apivot axis that is translatable a predetermined amount along transverse,longitudinal and vertical axes of the ankle support device so as toenable articulation of said ankle support assembly in a manner thatclosely approximates the articulation of the foot and ankle of thesnowboard rider.
 2. An ankle support assembly according to claim 1,wherein said coupling means includes a pocket formed along an upper rearsurface of said heel cup.
 3. An ankle support assembly according toclaim 1, which further includes restraint means for restraining theamount of vertical translation of said high back support to preventinadvertent decoupling of said high back support from said heel cup. 4.An ankle support assembly according to claim 1, which further includesrestraint means for restraining the amount of vertical translation ofsaid high back support to prevent inadvertant decoupling of said highback support from said heel cup.
 5. An ankle support assembly accordingto claim 4, wherein said restraint means includes a tether connectedbetween said high back support and said heel cup.
 6. An ankle supportassembly according to claim 1, which further includes a lengthadjustable cable routed around said high back support an having oppositeends attached to respective opposite sides of the snowboard boot upperat the location of the ball of the foot, said cable effective to set aforward lean adjustment of said high back support.
 7. An ankle supportassembly according to claim 1, wherein said ankle support assembly isfashioned as an insert for a soft-style snowboard boot.
 8. An anklesupport assembly according to claim 1, wherein said ankle supportassembly is positioned between a flexible outer boot portion and paddedinner boot portion of a soft-style snowboard boot.
 9. An ankle supportassembly for use with a snowboard boot, comprising:a heel cup includinga pocket formed on an upper rear surface; and a high back support havinga rounded bottom end which couples to the pocket such that the high backfloats to permit a predetermined amount of rotation in a lateraldirection and a predetermined amount of sliding in a substantiallyvertical and horizontal direction.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, furthercomprising a forward lean strap slidably coupled to the top of the highback and mechanically connected at two points on opposite sides of thesnowboard boot.
 11. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising arestriction structure to limit the range of vertical movement of thehigh back.
 12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the restrictionstructure affixes the high back to a boot liner of the snowboard boot.13. An ankle support assembly to provide support for a soft-style sportboot, comprising:a high back support element; an extension member havinga first end connected to the high back element, and having a secondrounded end; and a rigid heel cup having a pocket for securely retainingthe rounded end of the extension member in a free floating manner, toenable articulation of the ankle support assembly in response to themovement of an ankle during use of the sport boot.
 14. The assembly ofclaim 13, further comprising a forward lean strap slidably coupled tothe top of the high back and mechanically connected at two points onopposite sides of the sports boot.
 15. The assembly of claim 13, furthercomprising a restriction structure for limiting vertical movement of thehigh back.
 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the restrictionstructure affixes the high back to a boot liner of the sports boot.